Low-pressure spraying apparatus



E. F. MARTINET Low PRESSURE SPRAYING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 29. 1928 Patented Feb. 2, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EUGENE F. MARTINET, F CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THE P. A. GEIER COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO LOW-PRESSURE SPRAYING APIIARATU'S Application led February 29, 1928. Serial No. 258,069.

, ed for use in connection with, and as a blower attachment. for the portable type of a suitable electric suction cleaner. The primary object of my invention is the production and proper attachment of a device that will effectively spray or distribute a wide variety of liquids or powders with the relatively low pressure attained by the electrically driven fan, primarily, of a modern suction cleaner.

I am aware that previously the blower attachment of suction cleaners has been applied or attempted to be applied to various uses, but

I believe that the apparatus hereinafter de? scribed and shown in the drawings is the first successfully to meet the varied practical requirements of a low-pressure spraying mechanism for powders or liquids, adapted for general household use.

A principal requirement of an appliance of this class is the provision of a substantially straight and relatively large conduit extending directly from the fan chamber to the spraying nozzle. Such a conduit is necessary in connection with av low-pressure fan, not only for the purpose of reducing interior friction and avoiding eddy currents therein, but also to afford an equalizing chamber and convert the air currents into a steady blast at the spraying nozzle.

Another requirement discovered by mev in connection with apparatus of this class is the desirability of providing a wide range of adjustment for using liquids ofv widely different specific gravities. For this purpose the bore of thev spraying nozzle is of tubular form and material inner diameter, while the liquid nozzle associated therewith is provided with an adjustment to position the tip vin various planes .adjacent to the axis of the elongated spraying nozzle.' In addition to this there is provided an air-pressure connection to the container adapted to f cilitate the discharge of heavy liquids in the well'known manner. This connection has its own regulating valve and a shut-olf valve which is adapted to close prior to the closing of the shut-olf valve mem` vber for the spraying nozzle. e

Preferably these members are mounted as a unit upon the cover of the li uid container, while 'the .integral air cham er admirably serves as a handle for applying the spray. These and other details of construction and operation may best be explained by making reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 of said drawings illustrates in side elevation, centrally broken away, the assembled apparatus embodying my instant improv'ement,

`Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear. view of the unitary mounting of the spraying members upon the cover,

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view thereof,

and

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation, partially broken away and in section, showing the jar with the cover and spraying attachments mounted thereon,` with details of the airpressure connection and its regulating valve.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view inside elevation, and Fig. 6 is a plan view principally illustratinga modification of the air vent provided with automatic closure means.

The scale of Figs. 2. 3 and 4 is materially larger to bring out certain details, and the same character of reference is applied throughout all of the figures to designate similar parts therein shown.

Practically all of the modern portable electric suction cleaners are now providedwith a removable dust bagand with a hose, usually employed with auxiliaryv brushes or suction nozzles. The hose may also be used in lcon-` nection with a blower attachment and the preferred embodiment adapted for the instant Y attachment. The free end of said hose lits upon a straightv tubular handle member c which approximates the relatively large inner diameter of the hose to avoid frictional resistance and eddies in the air currents.

This handle memberthus forms the extremity of an elongated and substantially straight conduit which affords a low backpressure for the air controllably escaping from the tubular spraying nozzle of material and substantially uniform inner diameter, as shown at c. A secondary vent c, the purpose of which appears later, together with the opening to nozzle c', are respectively controlled by the sliding valve-plate d normally held before therespective openings on its depressible stemvel, by means of the coiled spring d. The openings c and c are formed in the plane-surfaced end member for the tubular member c.

A glass j ar e forms the liquid container and is normally closed by its screw cap e which mounts the handle member, nozzle and valve by means of an L-shaped bracket c screwed to said cap. Au air Vent e3 is provided in said cap, together with a controllable pressure vent from the air conduit, and an adjustable liquid nozzle with its tube extending to the bottom of the jar, are shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The tip f of said liquid nozzle,

terminating the supply tube f', which is suit ably threaded, has a thumb nut f adapted to secure said tip in varyingplanes with respect to the axis of nozzle c.

This arrangement of a spraying nozzle of elongated uniform bore and large inner diameter not only adords an adjustment of wide range for the liquid nozzle in order to adapt it for use with liquids of different consistencies and specific gravities, but the discharge of air from the air-pressure chamber, afforded interiorly of the handle member c, encloses and directs the sprayed liquid interiorly of the air column. By adjusting the nozzle f higher or lower, with respect to the air column of material diameter evenly directed from spraying nozzle c', diierent materials may be employed and applied and varying e'ects obtained.

Augmentingthis, however, I also provide an air-pressure connection g upon the top of the jar which is afforded complete regulation by the needle valve g', serving likewise as a complete shut-olf. It Will be observed in Figs. 2 and 3' that the valve plate d is loosely mounted upon its stem d by a yoke and groove connection and that the valve plate d serves normally to close the openings to the connection g and spraying nozzle, respectively at c and c', F ig. 2. This sliding valve member is so constructed as to afford initial closure of the vent c by means of the extension d3 before the air supply to the nozzle is completely cut oli. Thus, the added pressure in the jar e, assuming that valve g is open, `will be relieved through the vent es before the spraying nozzle ceases to act, so that there will be no excess of liquid forced from the jar Vwith the intermittent use of the spraying nozzle.

Moreover, the loose mounting of the plate amaca@ valve d 1on the stem d enables the valve to properly seat against the plane-surfaced end member a: without re uirin the holes in which the stem d is sli ably Journaled to be accurately located with respect to the surface of the member when the device is being fabricated. Thus, the parts may be economically manufactured without requiring eX- pensive operations to be performed upon the same.

Instead of employing the simple vent e8 for relieving the air pressure or maintaining atmospheric pressure, approximately, within jar e, I may also provide the modification disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6. Therein the air vent is of much larger area, as adorded by the normally open tube L. There is provided at the top of stem d a closure member in the form of a spring .L which lies above the top of tube L and upon the depression of said stem to open the spraying nozzle, this spring is presse down upon the top of said tube and substantially closes the same. This elevated air vent h not only` affords closure means not liable to be affected or fouled by the paint 0r enamel, but also contributes to the avoidance of slopping or spilling the contents of the jar. By automatically closing said air vent, a materially lower working pressure may be availed of for spraying operations.

Spraying apparatus commonly in use employs a relatively high air pressure and a restricted orifice at the spraying nozzle. lWith the employment of a low pressure fan unit, however, different conditions obtain, and a larger volume of air preferably is used. Moreover, the intermittent impulses imparted 'to the air currents by a rapidly rotated fan require a relatively large conduit and air chamber in order to avoid eddy currents, friction and inequalities in pressure at the spraying nozzle, as well as a direct transmission line without abrupt turns or constrictions from the fan chamber to th spraying nozzle. p

In an appliance of this character it is important that the apparatus shall be of the simplest and most economical e, yet affording a capacity for using a wide range of materials, both powdered and liquid, if household requirements shall be met. The foregoing features, it will be seen, are ade'- quately provided in the apparatus embodying my instant improvements, while said apparatus is very easily 'operated and is not hable to et out of order.

now described the preferred appaavinlg O odymg my invention, I claim as new ratus em and desire to secure by Letters Patent, the following:

1. In a spraying attachment, the combination with a liquid container and its protruding liquid tube, of walls .forming an air-pressure chamber, there being an opening in one of the chamber walls and a spraying nozzle associated with the terminal of the liquid tube and communicating through said opening with the air-pressure chamber, there being a second opening in one of the chamber walls and means communicating through the second opening between the air-pressure chamber and the container, and valve means for closing said openings mounted for movement adjacent the openings and adapted to close said second opening prior to the closing of the first opening.

2. In a spraying attachment, the combination with a liquid container andA its protruding liquid tube, of walls forming an airpressure chamber, there being an opening in one of the chamber walls and a spraying nozzle associated with the terminal of the liquid tube and communicating through said opening with the air-pressure cham er, there being a second opening in one of the chamber walls and'means communicating through the second opening between the air pressure chamber and the container, and a'plate valve for closing said openings slidably mounted for movement transversely of the axes of said openingsand adjacent thereto and adapted to close said second opening prior to closing the first opening.

3. In a spraying attachment, the combination with a liquid container'and its protruding liquid tube, of walls forming an air-pressure chamber, there being an opening in one of the chamber walls and a spraying nozzle associated with the terminal of the liquid tube and communicating throu h said opening with the air-pressure cham er, there being a second opening in one of the chamber walls and means communicating through the second opening, between the air-pressure chamber and the container, a valve in said communicating means, and valve means for closing said openings mountedfor movement adjacent the openings and adapted to close said second opening prior to the' closing of the iirst opening.

4. In a spraying attachment, the combination of a liquid container having a liquid supply nozzle with an air-pressure chamber having adjacent openings to a spraying nozzle and to an air-pressure connection to said container, of a unitary sliding valve-member having portions respectively positioned .ini-

tially to close the opening to said connection and thereafter the opening to the nozzle upon movement of the valve to normal position, an actuating plunger for the valve member, a spring cooperating with the plunger normally operative to maintain the valve member in position to close said openings, and a spraying nozzle connected to said spraying nozzle opening and cooperating with said liquid supply nozzle.

5. In a spraying attachment, the combination of a liquid container having a liquid supply nozzle with an air-pressure chamber provided with a plane-surfaced end member having adjacent openings to a spraying nozzle and to an air-pressure connection to said container, of a unitary sliding plate valve mem- .ber having portions respectively positioned initially to close the opening to sald connection and thereafter the opening to the nozzle upon movement of the valve to normal position, an actuating plunger loosely mounting said valve member, a spring cooperating with the plunger normally operative to maintain the valve member in position to close said openings, and a spraying nozzle connected to said spraying nozzle opening and cooperating with said liquid supply nozzle.

6. In a spraying attachment, the combination with an air-pressure chamber of relatively large diameter closed by a plane-surfaced end member, of a spraying nozzle communicating with said chamber Aand connected to said end member, and an air-pressure connection communicating with said chamber and extending from said end member, a slidable plate valve member seating against said end member normally cutting oill communication between said chamber and the spraying nozzle and air-pressure connection, a spring actuated plunger mounting said valve member, a liquid container mounting the chamber, nozzle, connection, valve and plunger and communicating with said connection, and a liquid tube protruding from the container adjacent to said nozzle.

7. In a spraying attachment, the combination with cylindrical walls forming an airpressure chamber of relatively large diameter, of a spraying nozzle axially connected to said chamber walls, a liquid container, a liquid nozzle communicating with said container and located in aspirating relation with the spraying nozzle, an air-pressure connection from said chamber to the container independently of said nozzle, aunitary control valve for said nozzle and connection and closing the connection before closing the nozzle, an air vent for the container mounted thereon independently of said nozzle and said connection and elevated above the spraying nozzle, a plunger for the control valve, and a closure for the vent mounted upon said plunger.

In testimony whereorl I do now aix my signature.

EUGENE F. MARTINET. 

